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Daily Archives: September 14, 2011

Faced with a four-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning, the five dangerous hitters in the middle of the lineup all reached base and scored in an instant Wednesday night as the Patriots rallied for a 8-6 victory against the Road Warriors.

Jeff Nettles drew a leadoff walk and Michael Hernandez reached on an error by shortstop Danny Gonzalez. Josh Pressley and Matt Hagen followed with RBI hits and both scored on Justin Huber’s three-run home run.

It was exactly as the Patriots drew it up in spring training — before suffering through a surprising losing season.

The five-run rally took starter Nic Ungs off the hook after he allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk in four innings. Kevin Reese, who picked up the win, gave up two runs on five hits in two innings.

Ron Villone stranded the bases loaded in the seventh inning to preserve the lead and Ryan Houston notched the save.

When Bill Pulsipher walks off the mound tonight, he will not have tossed the final pitch in one of baseball’s most-followed careers of the past two decades.

The question in need of answering, however, is whether Pulsipher will continue throwing to opposing lineups come the start of next season or make the switch to facing the team he is coaching during rounds of batting practice with his two pre-teen sons in the yard.

The first step in solving the mystery will take place in the immediate future as the 37-year-old former major leaguer is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder following his final start of the season for the Somerset Patriots.

He will face the Road Warriors at 7 p.m. at TD Bank Ballpark on the heels of Wednesday’s meeting between the teams.

About the Author

Mike AshmoreA new resident of Raritan after many years in Three Bridges, Mike Ashmore is a 2001 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School who began his career covering professional sports two years later. Since then, he's covered countless other teams and events ranging from the Stanley Cup Final, World Series, Daytona 500, NFL, UFC and many others as a freelancer working in the area. Mike is now in his fourth season of covering the Somerset Patriots for MyCentralJersey.com, and 14th season overall.E-mail Mike

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan